Soccer (W)

Renteria Goal Gives Knights a 1-1 Draw

10/5/2012

The Knights fell behind after an early second half goal by Palomar's Yvette Ponce, but the Knights' Brenda Renteria cancelled it out with a goal of her own in the 65th minute to preserve a 1-1 draw on Friday.

SDCC took the initiative early in the match and attacked Palomar's defense, taking five shots on target within the first 15 minutes. None of those attempts, however, found the back of the net. City's best chance came in the ninth minute as Melissa Arauz found herself on a 1-on-1 with Palomar's goalkeeper Samantha Maldonado. Arauz got off a left-footed shot just inside the 18-yard box, but Maldonado was there to block it.

After a scoreless first half, the game opened up with both teams creating chances. In the 54th minute, Palomar's Ponce beat Knights' keeper Alyssa Busby with a lob shot from the left side.

With the Knights behind, the forward duo of Renteria and Monzerrat Tavera became alive as they kept attacking the left side of Palomar's defense. In the 65th minute it finally paid off as Tavera found Renteria with a run along the sideline. Renteria dribbled past two defenders and cut into the 18-yard box where she fired a shot towards the far post to beat the goalkeeper for the equalizer.

Four minutes later, Tavera got in a 1-on-1 situation with Palomar's Maldonado near the edge of the box, but wasn't able to get a shot off as Maldonado covered it up. Palomar had three shots on goal in the final 10 minutes, but Busby was there to stop them all. She had six saves for the Knights after entering the game at the start of the second half in place of Erica Inchaurregui, who played the first half and recorded three saves.